Nonrefillable bottle stopper



Aug. 9, 1693s.

E. GREENE NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE STOPPER Filed March 30, 1955 INVENTOR A ORNEYS Patented Aug. 9, 1938 V -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NONREFILLABLE BOTTLE STOPPER 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle stopper assemblies and more particularly to improvements in bottle stopper assemblies of the non-refillable type.

An object of the invention is to provide in a bottle stopper assembly of the foregoing character, means to prevent relative rotation between the parts in their assembled condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide means onthe topof the bottle neck for engaging the sealing gasket of the assembly in such fashion as to prevent rotation of the gasket relative to the bottle.

A further object of the invention is to provide means on the cover member of the assembly for engaging the gasket of the assembly in such fashion as toprevent relative rotation between the cover member and the gasket.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means formed integrally with the valve casing of the assembly for engagement with the gasket of the assembly in such fashion as to prevent relative rotation therebetween.

In carrying outthe objects and purposes of the present invention, the assembly comprises a bottle, a valve casing fitting within the bottle and having an external flange overlying the top of the bottle, a gasket overlying the top of the bottle neck, a cover member engaging the valve casing and contacting with the gasket, and an attaching member for securing these parts to the bottle, such' attaching member, in the preferred form, being a ferrule engaging a part of the cover and being locked to the exterior wall of the bottle. In order that the parts of the assembly may be held rigidly against rotation with respect one to another, provision is made for preventing such rotation. In the form of the invention shown, the valve casing, a part of which fits inside of the bottle neck, is provided with an external flange to overlie a part of the top surface of the bottle neck. This flange, however, is ofsuch diameter as to leave a portion of the top surface of the bottle neck uncovered. The valve casing has associated therewith an annular gasket member of such diameters, internal and external, as to substantially completely cover the top of the bottle neck. The cover member is provided with means for engaging the valve casing in such fashion as to normally secure these two parts together, and this cover member also has a bottom portion of suitable size to overlie the gasket and flange when these parts are positioned on top of the bottle neck.

When the parts of the stopper are assembled in proper relation to the bottle, they are held in assembled condition by means of a ferrule, part of which overlies an outer surface of the cover, and another part of which is spun into engaging relation with the outer wall of the bottle neck. To prevent rotation between the parts of the stopper and the bottle neck, the invention contemplates, in the first instance, the provision of some means formed integrally with the top surface of the bottle neck to engage the gasket in such fashion as to prevent relative rotation be tween the gasket and the bottle neck. Since the cover member is preferably made of glass, ceramic material, metal, or any other suitable material, it is possible that the gasket engaging surface of this cover may be left unglazed or so roughened that this surface will contact with thetop surface of the gasket with such gripping action as to prevent rotation between the cover member and the gasket. If additional locking action between the cover member and the gasket is desired, this cover member may be provided with integral formations of such character as to positively grip the gasket sufiiciently to prevent undesired relative rotation between these parts. As a final rotation preventing measure, the invention contemplates the provision of some formation integral with the flange of the valve casing for engagement with the gasket in such fashion as to positively prevent rotation between these parts. The various formations for preventing rotation may be used in any desired combinations, it being understood that the primary requirement in each instance is that rotation between the gasket and the bottle neck is to be prevented, since the friction between the other parts in their normal form will, in ordinary circumstances, lock these parts together sufficiently for the purposes desired.

Other features, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the accom panying drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a bottle and'stopper assembly showing a form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, partially in section, of the same assembly.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on the line i -3, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the top of a bottle neck incorporating a feature of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a valve casing showing a feature of the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, IIl indicates the neck of a bottle to which is secured a stopper assembly, the assembly comprising a valve casing II, a sealing gasket I2, an orificed cover member I4 and a retaining ferrule I5. Inasmuch as these parts, per se, have been described in detail in my pending application Serial No. 8,605, filed Feb. 28, 1935, and since they broadly form no part of the present invention, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein. Suffice it to say that the valve casing II, within which is placed some suitable valve mechanism, is made of metal, ceramic material or any other suitable material and is provided with an external flange I6 at the top thereof of such diameter as to overlie a part only of the top surface of the bottle neck Ill. The gasket I2 is of some suitable sealing material, such as cork. The orificed cover member I4 may be made of metal, glass,ceramic material, or any other material having the proper characteristics for the purpose intended. This cover member I4 is provided with depending lugs I1 which frictionally engage the inner wall of the valve casing, and the cover member also is provided with a bottom surface I8 shaped and sized to overlie the top of the bottle neck Ill. The ferrule I5 is made of some suitable metal, such as aluminum, the ferrule being attached to the assembly to hold the parts together by spinning the skirt part thereof into and over depressions and ribs on the exterior of the bottle neck. It is to be understood, of course, that the spinning takes place while the parts are in the relation shown in Fig. 1, and under such pressure as to compress the gasket I2.

When the parts are assembled and locked to gether as shown in Fig. 1 it is desirable that relative rotation between the various parts be prevented in order that the seal made by the gasket can be retained as an air-tight and liquidtight seal, thereby to prevent undesired egress of liquid from the bottle or introduction of liquid into the bottle. When a screw cap of conventional type (not shown) is used to enclose the pouring orifice of the cover member I4 it is desirable that rotation of the parts of the stopper relative to the bottle be prevented in order that the screw cap can be tightened relative to the cover member suificiently to completely close the pouring'orifice thereof, and in order that a screw cap tightly engaging the cover member can be loosened without the necessity of holding the cover member. When the cover member is manufactured, the bottom surface I8 may be left unfinished, that is, more or less rough, so that this bottom surface will grip the upper surface of the gasket I2 with sufficient force as to normally prevent relative rotation between the cover member and the gasket. The top of a bottle neck may not possess sufiicient roughness to prevent relative rotation between the gasket and the bottle neck if considerable torque is applied to one of the members. Accordingly, in order that relative rotation between the gasket and the bottle neck be prevented, the top of the bottle neck is provided with suitable integral formations for gripping or penetrating the gasket sufficiently to lock or anchor the gasket to the bottle neck. In the form shown in the drawing the formations complise upstanding ribs which are positioned diametrically opposite each other. It is'to be understood, however, that while a pair of ribs have been shown, under favorable conditions a single rib will be sufficient, or if conditions warrant, the number of ribs may be increased to meet the conditions.

When the parts of the assembly are secured together in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the ribs 20 will penetrate the material of the gasket I2 as shown in Fig. 3, so that the gasket is anchored to the bottle neck and cannot be turned relative thereto.

If additional anchoring between the cover member and the gasket beyond that normally existing is desired, the cover member may be provided with integral formations, such as shown in Fig. 5 wherein a short ribextends downwardly from the bottom surface I8. This rib 25 extends radially of the cover member only a short distance, since it must lie beyond the area of the surface I8 with which the top of the flange I6 contacts. When the parts are assembled, the rib 25 penetrates the gasket I2 sufficiently to anchor these two parts together. Of course, the formations may be of any desired number as in the case of the formations 20.

In order that the parts be locked together against rotation still further, the flange I6 of the valve casing may be provided with dents or depressions which will engage the material of the gasket I2 when the parts are assembled to anchor the valve casing against rotation relative to the gasket. The flange I6 may have its outer edge shaped otherwise than shown. For example, the outer edge of the flange might be elliptical instead of circular, with the result that when the flange is pressed into the gasket, relative rotation between these parts will be substantially prevented. Also, the exterior of the bottle neck may be shaped to prevent rotation of the ferrule therearound.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides efficient means for securing a bottle stopper assembly to a bottle neck in such fashion that relative rotation between the parts themselves or between the parts and the bottle neck is prevented. The provision of surface irregularities on the contacting parts causes the parts to so frictionally engage each other, that, for all practical purposes, rotation of one part relative to another is prevented. While the irregularities in the surfaces of the parts have been illustrated as being in the nature of definite ribs and the like, it is contemplated that these surfaces may be so formed as to have sufficient roughness as to set up the necessary friction between the parts for the purpose explained. For example, the top of the bottle neck may be formed in a manner similar to unglazed porcelain, that is with minute surface irregularities instead of definite spaced ribs. Moreover, where the valve casing is made of some ceramic material the flange of this casing can be left unglazed so that a good frictional contact will be made, both with the cover member and with the gasket. Also, since the lugs of the cover member engage the valve casing with a press fit as shown, it will be apparent that relative rotation between the cover member and the valve casing is substantially prevented. The upstanding ribs may, if desired, be replaced by indentations in the surfaces of the various parts without effecting any material change in results, since these desired results can be obtained either by formations forced into the material of the gasket or by the material of the gasket being forced into formations on the members with which it contacts.

It is to be understood that various combinations of anchoring means may be utilized within the contemplation of this invention, and further that the invention is not limited to any particular form of integral formations as described, since various formations may be utilized with equal efliciency. The primary requirement for preventing undesired rotation between the parts is that means be provided to positively prevent relative rotation between the sealing gasket and the bottle neck. However, if positive assurance of rotation prevention is desired, use may be made of either the surface irregularities on the cover member with the surface irregularities on the bottle neck, or, the surface irregularities on the valve casing flange with the surface irregularities on the neck, or, use may be made of a combina tion of all three types of surface irregularities.

I claim:

1. The combination of a bottle and a stopper assembly secured thereto, said stopper assembly comprising a flanged valve casing, a cover member, and a sealing gasket compressed between the top of said bottle neck and the flange of said valve casing and said cover member, the top of said bottle neck being provided with integral anchoring means for so gripping said gasket as to prevent relative rotation between the gasket and the bottle, the bottom of said cover member being in such frictional contact with said gasket as to normally prevent relative rotation between the cover member and the gasket,

2. The combination of .a bottle and a stopper assembly secured thereto, said stopper assembly comprising a flanged valve casing, a cover member and a sealing gasket compressed between the top of said bottle neck and the flange of said valve casing and said cover member, the top of said bottle neck being provided with integral engaging means for sogripping said gasket as to prevent relative rotation between the gasket and the bottle, and anchoring means formed on the bottom of said cover member for so gripping said gasket as to prevent relative rotation between the cover member and the gasket.

3. The combination of a bottle and a stopper assembly secured thereto, said stopper assembly comprising a flanged valve casing, a cover member and a sealing gasket compressed between the top of said bottle neck and the flange of said valve casing and said cover member, the top of said bottle neck being provided with integral anchoring means for so gripping said gasket as to prevent relative rotation between the gasket and the bottle, anchoring means formed on the bottom of said cover member for so gripping said gasket 'as to prevent relative rotation between the cover member and the gasket, and anchoring means formed integrally with the flange of said valve casing for so gripping said gasket as to prevent rotation between the gasket and the valve casing.

4. The combination of a bottle and a stopper assembly secured thereto, said stopper assembly comprising a valve casing having a flange partially overlying the top of said bottle neck, a cover member and a sealing gasket compressed between the top of the bottle neck and said flange and said cover member, anchoring means formed integrally with the top of said bottle neck for so gripping said gasket as to prevent relative rotation between the gasket and the bottle neck, and anchoring means formed integrally with the bottom of said cover member for so gripping said gasket as to prevent relative rotation between the gasket and the cover member, said last mentioned anchoring means being positioned outside the area of the bottle neck overlapped by said flange.

EDGEWORTH GREENE. 

